Thursday, July 21

Senate urges FG to evacuate Nigerians in South Sudan

The Senate on Thursday called on the Federal Government to evacuate Nigerians living in the crisis-ridden South Sudan.

The decision followed a point of order made by the Deputy Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Ben Bruce, at plenary, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Bruce while raising the point of order said reports indicated that Nigerians in South Sudan were the only nationals still left in the country despite the crisis.

“As we speak in the Hallowed Chamber, the fate of Nigerians in South Sudan is unknown and there are no indications that they have been evacuated,’’ he said.

Bruce urged the Senate to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, to explain why Nigerians were allegedly abandoned in South Sudan.

The lawmaker also urged the Senate to mandate the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, to carry out holistic investigation into what transpired at the Nigerian Embassy in the country.

In his remarks, the president of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the relevant authorities would be communicated appropriately to ensure that the lives of Nigerians in South Sudan were not in danger.

“Ben Murray Bruce came to discuss this matter with me and I think that based on our rule there will be no debate.

“But we will get the message across to the relevant ministry to see that a thing like this doesn’t happen and action is taken to properly address the matter,’’ Saraki stated.